WHAT IS LEADERSHIP?Leadership is an interactive conversation that pulls people toward becoming comfortable with the language of personal responsibility and commitment.

LEADERSHIP TIPS“The crux of leadership development that works is self-directed learning: intentionally developing or strengthening an aspect of who you are or who you want to be, or both.” Primal Leadership by Daniel Goleman, Richard Boyatzis & Annie McKee (Harvard Business School Press)

According to the findings, 74% of North American workers strongly agree with the statement that their workplace is more stressful, while 18% somewhat agree. Just 6% disagree.

My workplace is more stressful compared to five years ago.

Strongly agree

74%

Somewhat agree

18%

Somewhat disagree

2%

Disagree

6%

“We expect, to a degree, that most people would say they are feeling more pressure when asked about such workplace issues,” said Monika Morrow, Senior Vice President of Career Management at Right Management. “But there’s no ambiguity or uncertainty about the latest findings. Nearly everybody thinks stress has grown over the past five years…in other words since the recession began. That prolonged economic downturn prompted staff cutbacks, curtailed training and development initiatives, reduced opportunities for career advancement and made for heavier workloads all around.”

Most employees have been expected to make a greater contribution, Morrow said. “In many cases, operations have been streamlined, headcount is lower, competition greater and the outcome has been more pressure felt at all levels of the workplace. But understanding these realities don’t make it any easier to deal with or succeed in the situation.”

According to Morrow, management has also been hard pressed since the recession. “At the upper levels there’s relentless focus on results and earnings, and this stress is translated throughout the organization. And at the same time management is expected to cheer on a discontented workforce.”

Morrow advises organizations to avoid denial when concerns about workplace stress are raised. “Ignoring the problem may only complicate a difficult situation. What management must do is acknowledge the heavier burdens and make efforts to have them shared fairly. Expectations must be clarified, and priorities rationalized.”

According to the findings, 74% of North American workers strongly agree with the statement that their workplace is more stressful, while 18% somewhat agree. Just 6% disagree.

My workplace is more stressful compared to five years ago.

Strongly agree

74%

Somewhat agree

18%

Somewhat disagree

2%

Disagree

6%

“We expect, to a degree, that most people would say they are feeling more pressure when asked about such workplace issues,” said Monika Morrow, Senior Vice President of Career Management at Right Management. “But there’s no ambiguity or uncertainty about the latest findings. Nearly everybody thinks stress has grown over the past five years…in other words since the recession began. That prolonged economic downturn prompted staff cutbacks, curtailed training and development initiatives, reduced opportunities for career advancement and made for heavier workloads all around.”

Most employees have been expected to make a greater contribution, Morrow said. “In many cases, operations have been streamlined, headcount is lower, competition greater and the outcome has been more pressure felt at all levels of the workplace. But understanding these realities don’t make it any easier to deal with or succeed in the situation.”

According to Morrow, management has also been hard pressed since the recession. “At the upper levels there’s relentless focus on results and earnings, and this stress is translated throughout the organization. And at the same time management is expected to cheer on a discontented workforce.”

Morrow advises organizations to avoid denial when concerns about workplace stress are raised. “Ignoring the problem may only complicate a difficult situation. What management must do is acknowledge the heavier burdens and make efforts to have them shared fairly. Expectations must be clarified, and priorities rationalized.”